Law-Forums.org

[calin]

I am not asking how to make t-shirts or keep a reputable image for a business. I wan't to know the nitty gritty... like how to get secure a business name, set up taxes, if I need a certain location, Licensing and trademarks, shipping... I already have a fairly good grasp on domain names, hosts, and how to make websites.. I will be making my website using DW but it wouldn't hurt if you grazed over these things also. :) oh.. and I living in Wisconsin *it would be great if you answer was in step by step form like
1) blah blah blah
2) blah blah blah blah :)

[lalla3]

well if your using dream weaver them you know more about making web site then me I do. I use Weebly :)
also, I live in pa but Wisconsin should be basically the same.

part 1: this is the design stage of your venture.
(1) you need the think about what going to make to different or give you an edge.
(2)you need to think about how you will structure you company (llc, inc, S-corp. etc...)
the main reason people form companies is to protect themselves from liability so strictly specking you don't need one...and you can always change you mind later. I didn't form one.
(3) you also need to decide a name fairly early in the process cause there a pain to change.
(4) for a t-shirt site you will probable want a "fictitious name" you will need a fictitious name is you want to do business in any name other then your own. with out a fictitious name you can open bank accounts in that name. to get a fictitious name you the great state of Wisconsin a the paper work with a Hugh check pa was like $150 Wisconsin may be more or less
(5) you will need to scout out the computation I used "custom ink" there where awesome
(6) you will need to get a handle on how much money you will need to start you company.
a lot of folks get in trouble here. it will take more money then I would have thought. VERY IMPORTANT you will need to leave yourself a 20% contingency to what you estimate.
the number #1 reason start ups fail is money management
(7) this one important cause if you don't know where your going you might end up some place else.
a lot of folks try to skip this. you need a mission statement.
(8) after you done all of that you still have spent any money if this is your last change to back out risk free take a moment to think about if you still want to do this. also ask yourself how much you know about SEO cause in this line of work that going to REALLY important if you don't know what SEO is you will need to find out before you continue.
(9) you will need to pick a method of accounting: "cash" or "actual".
you could also do non-GAAP but I'd stay way from that. I'd go with cash that just means when you sell $10 of t-shirt you count it as $10 of sale's... its really simple.
(10) if your going to be making a logo now is the time to start. logo are a bit of a hassle as this site will show you http://www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness/trademarks/registering.html it is perfectly legal to just use a logo and not registry it until you get on you feet.
Part 2: the set up
(1) now its time to make you site. mine took me about a week but it was my first site ever ( I don't even have a Facebook page ) take as mush time as you need, better it done right then fast. you will also need business email addresses, business Facebook pages the whole catalog. it will take about 1 week to conform a listing with Google so you can do paperwork then.
(2) with a web site made you my think if time to buy a domain name the find a server... not quite you will now need to make a marketing plan. I missed that step with my business plan and I still regret it. don't skip this one. I'm not going to give you any advice on that as that's my weak point.
(3) now would be the time to get set up with pay pal Google checkout etc...
(5) you will need a shipping account or mostly likely 2 one with fed ex and one with ups.
once you have one set up. ups can stop right at you house to pick the outgoing shirts. it's not hard there quite user friendly.
(4) if you need to build up inventory now is the time to do it.
(5) now take a deep breath take a step back and do a quick revelation. be sure everything's ready before you move on.
part 3: The grand roll out
(1) now its time roll everything out and see how the public reacts to it. capitalize one what works and change what dose not.

taxes:
(1) you can claim the business use of you home is you only use it for business and it's separated from the rest of the house. so if you have a basement you use for business you could use that. if you use your bed room you can't count that because you also sleep there.
(2) you will have to charge sale tax on sales in Wisconsin and I think maybe Ca
(3)depending one where you live you may have to file for a business licenses this is mostly large cities they have crazy names for them like "business privilege tax" just check you state, county, city, web sites.
(4) if you make a profit more then 4 years in a row you will need to file quarterly estimate with the feds
(5) this should not be an problem unless you make a lot of noise when you make t-shirts (hey i don't know how you do it) but you should check the zoning of your house and be sure you good there.
all of this is what you will have to do if you have no partners and less then 5 employees.

good luck, there are a lot of folks selling t-shirts online.

[garbhach65]

well if your using dream weaver them you know more about making web site then me I do. I use Weebly :)
also, I live in pa but Wisconsin should be basically the same.

part 1: this is the design stage of your venture.
(1) you need the think about what going to make to different or give you an edge.
(2)you need to think about how you will structure you company (llc, inc, S-corp. etc...)
the main reason people form companies is to protect themselves from liability so strictly specking you don't need one...and you can always change you mind later. I didn't form one.
(3) you also need to decide a name fairly early in the process cause there a pain to change.
(4) for a t-shirt site you will probable want a "fictitious name" you will need a fictitious name is you want to do business in any name other then your own. with out a fictitious name you can open bank accounts in that name. to get a fictitious name you the great state of Wisconsin a the paper work with a Hugh check pa was like $150 Wisconsin may be more or less
(5) you will need to scout out the computation I used "custom ink" there where awesome
(6) you will need to get a handle on how much money you will need to start you company.
a lot of folks get in trouble here. it will take more money then I would have thought. VERY IMPORTANT you will need to leave yourself a 20% contingency to what you estimate.
the number #1 reason start ups fail is money management
(7) this one important cause if you don't know where your going you might end up some place else.
a lot of folks try to skip this. you need a mission statement.
(8) after you done all of that you still have spent any money if this is your last change to back out risk free take a moment to think about if you still want to do this. also ask yourself how much you know about SEO cause in this line of work that going to REALLY important if you don't know what SEO is you will need to find out before you continue.
(9) you will need to pick a method of accounting: "cash" or "actual".
you could also do non-GAAP but I'd stay way from that. I'd go with cash that just means when you sell $10 of t-shirt you count it as $10 of sale's... its really simple.
(10) if your going to be making a logo now is the time to start. logo are a bit of a hassle as this site will show you http://www.uspto.gov/smallbusiness/trademarks/registering.html it is perfectly legal to just use a logo and not registry it until you get on you feet.
Part 2: the set up
(1) now its time to make you site. mine took me about a week but it was my first site ever ( I don't even have a Facebook page ) take as mush time as you need, better it done right then fast. you will also need business email addresses, business Facebook pages the whole catalog. it will take about 1 week to conform a listing with Google so you can do paperwork then.
(2) with a web site made you my think if time to buy a domain name the find a server... not quite you will now need to make a marketing plan. I missed that step with my business plan and I still regret it. don't skip this one. I'm not going to give you any advice on that as that's my weak point.
(3) now would be the time to get set up with pay pal Google checkout etc...
(5) you will need a shipping account or mostly likely 2 one with fed ex and one with ups.
once you have one set up. ups can stop right at you house to pick the outgoing shirts. it's not hard there quite user friendly.
(4) if you need to build up inventory now is the time to do it.
(5) now take a deep breath take a step back and do a quick revelation. be sure everything's ready before you move on.
part 3: The grand roll out
(1) now its time roll everything out and see how the public reacts to it. capitalize one what works and change what dose not.

taxes:
(1) you can claim the business use of you home is you only use it for business and it's separated from the rest of the house. so if you have a basement you use for business you could use that. if you use your bed room you can't count that because you also sleep there.
(2) you will have to charge sale tax on sales in Wisconsin and I think maybe Ca
(3)depending one where you live you may have to file for a business licenses this is mostly large cities they have crazy names for them like "business privilege tax" just check you state, county, city, web sites.
(4) if you make a profit more then 4 years in a row you will need to file quarterly estimate with the feds
(5) this should not be an problem unless you make a lot of noise when you make t-shirts (hey i don't know how you do it) but you should check the zoning of your house and be sure you good there.
all of this is what you will have to do if you have no partners and less then 5 employees.

good luck, there are a lot of folks selling t-shirts online.

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[starling]

see an attorney and secretary of states office in Madison.